As a mental performance mastery and high-performance coach who has worked with athletes on dusty cricket pitches and claustrophobic tennis courts, I’ve realised that it’s not just about sweating; it’s about the strategy. I’ve coached cricketers to hit howling sixes, tennis players to dominate baselines, and golfers to sink clutch putts. But recently, I’ve become obsessed with the brain. It’s your passport to next-level strength. Welcome to neuro-centered strength shaping.

Your most seasoned training partner

Your brain is in control long before your muscles flex or flop. Stuck on your deadlift? Having trouble with that forehand? This isn’t solely a physical issue — it’s also a signal from your brain. Neuro-focussed training changes this dynamic, empowering your brain to become your cheerleader rather than a critic.

I’ve been experimenting with this stuff with my athletes, and the results have been incredible. Cricketers are hitting the ball harder, tennis players are responding like superheroes, and golfers are maintaining their composure under pressure. It’s not magic — it’s your brain getting exercise, too. Let’s see how the pros do it.

Virat Kohli: Greatness is in his wiring

When Virat Kohli is on the ground, it’s not just his biceps that are fired up — his brain is in on the action. During India’s 2018 tour of England, he experimented with reaction drills using tennis balls while running. Sounds disconnected? But it’s solid gold — priming his nervous system to fire on all cylinders. He hammered two centuries during that tour, tallying 593 runs. Coincidence? Nah. His brain was telling his body: “We’re unstoppable.”

Before your next session, grab a ball, throw it while moving, and prepare your mind.

Novak Djokovic: The master of the mental marathon

He is a brain-training monster. Take his epic matches against Jannik Sinner of late — as in the 2024 Shanghai Masters final, where Sinner defeated him 7-6, 6-3. Novak has discussed his use of visualisation to stay focused and visualise each shot before hitting it. While Sinner has been performing exceptionally well, defeating him several times in a row by late 2024, Novak’s mental toughness remains unwavering. That’s neuro-training — keeping the mind in tune when the body’s howling.
The key: See the win before you swing. It’s like a shot of espresso for your mind.

Jannik Sinner: Tension becomes fortitude

Then there’s Jannik Sinner, the young Italian who has been haunting Novak Djokovic. He is at the moment the number one player in men’s tennis, thanks to two Grand Slams already in the bank: the Australian Open and the US Open 2024.

His secret? He thrives under pressure. Check out his 2024 Australian Open semifinal against Djokovic: Facing a match point, he didn’t flinch, winning 6-1, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3. This year, studies said that stress drills — such as practising amidst distractions — build mental grit, and Sinner is living proof.

I experimented with this on a tennis kid I coach. She’d freeze in clutch situations, so we’d do “chaos reps” — I’d scream “pizza” mid-rally. She smiled, pivoted, and clinched her next title.

Rory McIlroy: Champ on the links

The golfer can work wonders with a club, but what’s his real advantage? His headspace. In 2023, he opened up about imagining shots — visualising the ball soaring before he’d swing. It’s your brain wiring itself to win, and now in 2025, pros are using it alongside neuro-feedback gear to monitor focus in real time. Rory’s putts speak the truth: when his brain’s locked in, the hole’s simply a magnet.

Do this, weekend warriors: As you prepare for your next big move — the lift, the swing, whatever — close your eyes and visualise it going perfectly.

It’s not just coach talk

Your brain’s got a motor cortex. Neuro-training makes it smarter — not just harder — so your muscles fire. Like upgrading from a flip phone to a smartphone — the same you, just a more polished product. Research indicates that activities such as balance games, reaction drills, and mindfulness can significantly enhance this process. More strength, more direct moves.

Strength is not merely about grinding; it is about syncing your brain and body like a power couple. Kohli, Djokovic, Sinner, Rory — they’re evidence that you don’t only train hard; you train sharp. Whether you’re a kid who wants to be the next IPL champion, a dreamer at tennis or a gym person in search of gains, your brain’s your trump card.

So the next time you’re stuck, don’t just push-play. Get your head right, chuckle at the missteps, and see your performance skyrocket.

Anwar Wahhab is a mental performance mastery coach and a bioprint practitioner. You can reach him at
anwarwahhab.awefitness@gmail.com